Deleting pre paid numbers without authority

My prepaid number has been inactive since June 2017 because we only use it overseas. Before leaving for a trip I noted the number had disappeared off my account without any warning. After spending 30 minutes with their call centre they advised it had been deleted and scheduled for recycling!!! I now need to go and grovel at a vodacom shop to try and re-activate it. Problem is I am leaving now and don't have time to do so. What is even worse the prepaid credit on the phone has also disappeared. This smacks of a bloated corporate taking my money without my consent. This is NOT O****. Vodacom you seriously lack ethics and customer respect.